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| Sanford Papers saved for Somerset |
An archive collection of outstanding historical
importance has been saved for Somerset thanks to help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Lottery has awarded a grant of £383,500 to Somerset County Council to allow the purchase of the family and estate papers of the Sanford family of Nynehead near Wellington. The collection is being housed at the Somerset Record Office in Taunton. ‘The Sanfords have been at the heart of West Country history for hundreds of years,’ Tom Mayberry, Head of Heritage, explained. ‘They supplied Somerset with MPs, justices, soldiers and administrators over many generations, and the collection they left behind them is vast and internationally important.’ Among the outstanding treasures of the collection are a 15th century illuminated chronology of the kings of England, and letters of John Locke, the great English philosopher, who was born in Somerset in 1632. There are also important papers relating to the Monmouth Rebellion, including an order signed by the infamous Judge Jeffreys. But perhaps of greatest significance are the large amounts of personal correspondence from the 16th and 17th centuries. ‘The collection contains hundreds of wonderful letters,’ Tom Mayberry said. They include letters from London reporting the illness and death of Elizabeth I, a letter from Henry Bluett sending news of the death from plague of Will Slye, the player in Shakespeare’s company, and a very important series of letters between Edward and Mary Clarke. Their correspondence is full of local and domestic detail, and brings the 17th century to life in an unforgettable way.’ Now that the collection has been acquired it is being conserved and listed in detail, and an educational programme is underway to make the contents of this unique archive available to people of all ages. ‘We are delighted that the Sanford papers have been secured for Somerset,’ Sam Crabb, Portfolio holder for Culture Inclusion and Access, said. ‘We are also very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their outstanding generosity in making the acquisition possible. The collection is a marvellous addition to the sources of West Country history, and has a great deal more to tell us.’ Nerys Watts, HLF Regional Manager for the South West, comments; ‘We are delighted to help safeguard the long-term future of this fascinating collection, as well as opening up its contents to as many people as possible. HLF is dedicated to preserving and promoting local heritage gems, and this project will enable everyone to explore and enjoy a wealth of historic documents that are nationally important.’ |